In 1978, Sir Clive Sinclair – inventor of the pocket calculator and the ZX Spectrum computer – released the world’s first portable television, the MTV-1. It was a bit chunky to be called pocketable, although that could have something to do with the fact that it packed a 2-inch CRT inside its body…
The use of CRT was a decision based on necessity – this was 1978, and LCD technology wasn’t quite mature enough to make its way into a product like this.
Sony expanded on the MTV-1 with the release of the FD-210 Watchman pocket TV in 1982. It was smaller than the MTV-1, but still relied on black-and-white CRT display technology. Later models introduced colour and larger screen sizes, but it wasn’t until 1990 that the first LCD display made its way into the Watchman lineup.
Today, portable TVs still exist, but certainly aren’t mainstream. We’re much more likely to play back recorded TV shows, movies and podcasts on our mobile phones or iPods. But portable TV will always hold a place in our hearts for being so cool for their time…
History of TV is Giz AU’s month-long look back at the development of the world-changing medium and its influence on our daily lives.
[Pic: Retro Thing]